Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Institute for Biological Research mapped the protein production profile of the coronavirus and identified 23 new protein sequences. Their findings may help develop drugs, vaccines and better tests for detecting corona
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, thousands of studies have been devoted to the study of the corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), but the virus that changed our lives remains largely unsolved - not least due to the fact that it is one of the largest and most complex RNA viruses studied so far. Most of the studies dedicated to mapping the virus relied on genetic sequencing methods while relying on the similarity of the virus to other known viruses from the corona family and predictions of mathematical models. In a new study published today in the scientific journal Nature, a different research strategy was chosen.
Weizmann Institute of Science scientists, in collaboration with scientists Institute for Biological Research, applied a new approach in the research that focuses on the process of translating the viral RNA into proteins inside the host cell - without relying on prior knowledge of other viruses from the corona family or on any prior assumptions. Their findings may help develop new treatments and better tests to detect corona and help understand what makes this virus so contagious.
When a virus enters a host cell, it uses ribosomes - the cell's protein production factories - to produce viral proteins. The research students Yara Finkel and Oral Mizrahi from the group of Dr Noam Stern-Ginosar In the department of molecular genetics at the institute, together with the group of Dr. Nir Faran and Dr. Tomer Israeli from the biological institute, infected human cells in culture with corona viruses, and when the ribosomes began to emit protein sequences from their production lines, they froze the cells and mapped all the ribosomes and their products - the viruses and non-viral as well.
In this way, the research team was able to identify 23 new protein sequences in the genome of the virus. Most of the sequences were short - peptides that may have some regulatory role - but four of them were proteins in the full sense of the word. These viral proteins may constitute antigens - foreign molecules that stimulate our immune system to action. As we know, in many cases the severity of the disease caused by infection with the corona virus is caused by an overreaction of the immune system. Future research of these proteins may lead to a better understanding of the progression of the disease, as well as point to better ways to treat it or prevent an overreaction of the immune system.
"The method of mapping the products of the ribosomes allowed us not only to accurately identify the sequences in the viral genome that are translated into proteins, but it gave us information on the exact amounts of the various viral proteins in the host cell. Thanks to these findings, we had enough information to make a comparison between the corona virus and other viruses from the same family, as well as to compare our findings to predictions based on mathematical models," says Dr. Stern-Ginoser. "These comparisons allowed us to identify in the corona virus genetic sequences encoding proteins that were not known until now - and perhaps no less important than that: we discovered that proteins that were supposed to be there, according to the predictions, were not actually produced."
The scientists also revealed some of the secrets of the virus's success: they tested its ability to infect different types of cells in the body, and discovered that certain epithelial cells that line the lungs are the most enthusiastic hosts of the virus. The findings revealed another viral recipe for success: the viruses replicate at such a high rate that the amount of viral RNA in the cell quickly exceeds the amount of human RNA.
The protein production profile of the virus drawn by the scientists may make it possible to identify antigens unique to Corona, and thus develop accurate, cheap and fast tests for the disease. This identification may also help predict which patients may develop a more severe disease than others, as well as provide new insights towards drug and vaccine development.
Aharon Nachshon, Dr. Michal Schwartz and David Morgenstern from the Weizmann Institute of Science also participated in the study; Dr. Shira Weingarten-Gabai from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, and Dr. Yifat Yahlom-Ronen, Dr. Hadas Tamir, Dr. Hagit Akhdot, Dana Stein, Dr. Ofir Israeli, Dr. Adi Beit-Din , Dr. Sharon Melamed and Dr. Shay Weiss from the Institute for Biological Research.
3M contributed to Tel Aviv University's corona vaccine development project
The purpose of the research led by Prof. Johnny Gershoni is to find the weak point of the virus - the attachment mechanism and to prevent it from binding to the receptors on the surface of the lung cells
The technological-scientific company 3M has made a significant donation for scientific research in the amount of 400 thousand dollars (1.36 million NIS) to the Shemunis School of Biomedical and Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University in order to advance the scientific knowledge of the global response to the Corona epidemic.
M3's donation is part of a $5 million initiative that aims to support research programs at the world's leading academic institutions that focus on the treatment and development of a vaccine for the corona virus. The donation to Tel Aviv University is the result of a competitive process, and it reflects the great appreciation for the university's research program. The donation was transferred through GlobalGiving, M3's donation transfer partner, to verify due diligence and reporting.
Prof. Johnny Gershoni, the leader of the research and a respected expert in the field of viral pathogens, stated: "The publication of the genome of SARS CoV2 on 9.1.20 started the race to develop the vaccine for the corona virus. We have developed an innovative technology with a patent that allows the RBM to be isolated from the rest of the spike protein in a spot way. M3's contribution will significantly increase our efforts to produce a highly targeted, strong and above all safe vaccine," added Prof. Gershoni.
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Keep posting the information, the researchers in Wuhan who spread the virus will be working on something new to bypass your solutions haha
Only when we really see the results in the field, I will believe that there is indeed an effective vaccine, until then, we have to wait and only when the corona cases are significantly reduced, then I will really believe it, not the Japanese!